Tobacco-hanger.



N0. 704,196. Patented july 8, 1902.

' w. m. KETCHIN.

TOBACCO HANGER.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1902.)

@Vvknesscys: Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIcE.

IVILLIAM M. KETCHIN, CF TARIFFVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

TOBACCO-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,196, dated July 8, 1902.

Application filed February 15, 1902. Serial No. 94,178. No model.)

To tZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. KETCHIN, a citizen of the United States of America, and aresident of Tariffville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for hanging or suspending articles which are to be separated from each other when hung up, and particularly relates to the suspending cf tobacco-leaves; and it has for its object the provision of an inexpensive device into which the stems of the leaves may be quickly introduced, thereby holding these leaves by their stems firmly and properly separated from one another and from which the leaves may be quickly removed. I accomplish these obj sets by means of bent spring-clamps, which are attached and firmly held in bars, as described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, broken at one point and showing a leaf held in suspension. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof, showing a leaf-stem about to be introduced into the device. Fig. 3 shows a side view of a portion of a bar, showing two spring-clamps, one of which holds a leaf. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bar, showing one spring-clamp like that in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of spring-clamp, showing a leaf clamped therein. Fig. 6 is a bottom View of a portion of a bar, showing one clamp like that in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, my improved apparatus consists of a suitable bar of wood or other material, in which are inserted a series of spring-clamps C. These clamps may be introduced in the bar upon any side; butin the drawings I have shown these clamps introduced at the bottom of the bar 8. These clamps are preferably formed of round or slightly-flattened wire, each one consisting of a projecting portion or shank 9 and a bent portion which forms a coil of a rounded or other suitable shape. This bent portion of the clamp C is so made as to form an open throat 10 between the portions 9 and 11 of the clamp, while the lower portion of the clamp is so formed as to close or nearly close the space between the lower portions 12 and 13 of the clamp. This construction of the bends forms an angular opening 14, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The end portion of the wire may be extended as far as 15. The shank 9 is driven through the bar 8, and its end is bent back and driven into the wood in a curved or angular shape, as shown at 16. This construction holds the spring-clamp from turning and also holds it from being pushed out of the bar. In forming this spring-clamp the portion 12 is preferably placed intermediate of the portions 11 and 13, so that pressure will be brought to bear upon the stem 28 by the clamp at 12, the leaf itself resting upon the portions 11 and 13. This construction holds the leaf flat and in alinement with the spring-clamp C, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. In attaching the clamp C to the bar 8 the angular openings 14: may be substantially at right angles to the bar 8 or at an angle thereto, and these openings should be substantially parallel to one another. In order that the leaves 30 may not overlap and touch one another, I prefer that the angular openings 14 should be substantially at right angles to the bar 8,thereby separating the suspended leaves to the greatest extent. In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of this springclamp device attached to the bar 8. This device consists of a stem 20, bent and driven into the bar 8, as shown at 21. The clamping portion of this device may be formed in a rectangular or square shape, and consists of the bend 22 22 and the bend 23, forming an angular opening 24, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. I preferably form the bend 23 narrower than the bend 22 in order to pinch the stem 25 at 26 and 27 between the bearingpoints 22 22 of the wire. This operates to hold the leaf from turning and from being deflected out of line of the plane of the clamping devices.

In using this device the bar 8 maybe held in the hand or suspended upon a hook at both ends, and the stem 28 may be inserted into the throat 10, as shown in Fig. 2, without pinching the stem to any appreciable extent. The leaf is then drawn from its angular position downward to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, and While moving into that position the leaf is drawn downward by its stem,Which will not break, as the stem possesses considerable strength in the direction of its length. By introducing the stem as described the portions 12 and 13 are sprung apart, and the leaf is clamped and held with its flat side 28 against the portions 11 and 13, in which position the leaf is firmly held in alinement with the clamp and is also held from turning. Leaves may be thus introduced expeditiously, and one or more leaves may be quickly removed simultaneously from this device.

Many modifications in the form of the bent clamping device having the particular features described herein for clamping the stem or for clenching the clamp in the bar may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim as my invention 7 1. The combination of a bar with a series of spring-clamps each formingan open throat,

converging to a substantially closed portion for receiving and clamping a stem.

2. In a tobacco-hanger, the combination of a bar with a series of spring-clamps, each having an integral shank fixed in the bar, and forming an open converging throat for receiving and clamping a stem, the series of throat-openings being substantially parallel with each other.

3. In a tobacco-hanger, the combination of a bar, and a series of coiled spring-clamps, each forming an open converging throat between its coils for receiving and clamping a leaf, each clamp being provided with an integral shank clenched in the bar, for maintaining the clamps in substantially parallel relation.

Signed at Hartford, Connecticut, this 13th day of February, 1902.

WILLIAM M. KETOHIN. \Vitnesses:

XVILLIAM A. LORENZ, HANS MALLNER. 

